Manga has always been everyone’s favorite, and the same goes with Manga Korean drama series. They are one of the best ones out there, and undoubtedly everyone has checked them out.
The fanbase for manga is HUGE, but when it comes to manga adaptation into series, the size of the fanbase triples, and it is anything but surprising as people love to see the story portrayed on a screen instead of pages.
South Korean creators have always understood the assignments, and all the time, they have done their best for the best portrayal of those paper characters.
The audience out there has always loved the drama adaptation of the webtoons and novels because of their undisturbed portrayal by the creators and the actors playing the roles of your favorite characters.
Here, we have handpicked and summarized the top 31 manga Korean drama series that you must have on your watchlist. So, let’s have a quick peek inside.
Playful Kiss
A quirky and fun romantic South Korean drama is based on the Japanese manga named “Itazura na Kiss” by Kaoru Tada.
The drama adaptation of the manga has been loved by many out there, and the fan base for the same has been growing ever since its release. The MBC drama is written by Go Eun-nim.
The drama is regarded as the third adaptation of the manga series after its 2005’s Taiwanese version titled “It Started with a Kiss” and then followed by its 2007’s sequel titled “They Kiss Again”.
The plot of the show revolves around a sweet and unpopular girl named Oh Ha-Ni, who is in love with a smart and popular boy Baek Seung-Jo. She expresses her feeling for him through a love letter that he gives back; graded, which leaves her embarrassed and heartbroken.
Though fates had other plans, and the circumstances led Ha-Ni and her father to being invited to live with Baek Seung-Jo and his family. Despite all her efforts, Ha-Ni still doesn’t get any good from Seung-Jo.
Later, Bong Joon-gu reveals his feeling for Ha-Ni and asks for her hand in marriage. And when this news reaches Seung-Jo, he starts pulling up every way to win her back.
- Starring: Jung So-min as Oh Ha-Ni, Kim Hyun-joong as Baek Seung-jo, Lee Tae-sung as Bong Joon-gu, and Lee Si-young as Yoon Hae-ra.
- Director: Hwang In-Roi and Kim Do-Hyung.
- Premiere Period: September 1 to October 21, 2010.
- Watch on: YouTube, Viki, Netflix.
- Total Number of Episodes: 16 with running timing of 1 hour 5 minutes each.
Full House
A romantic and comedy manga Korean drama series is based on the manhwa titled “Full House” by Won Soo-Yeon. The drama is considered a pioneer of the genre of romantic comedy in the South Korean drama industry.
Moreover, the drama was not only a hit in its home country but also all over Asia and helped greatly in extending the love for Korean dramas all over the globe.
There are several remakes and sequels for the same created in various nations like the Philippines, Thailand, and many others.
In the show, we meet an aspiring scriptwriter named Han Ji Eun living in her late father’s home, “Full House”.
In some interesting yet surprising turn of events, she ends up getting tricked by her best friends that she has won a free vacation, and they end up selling her house behind her back.
On the flight, she meets actor Lee Young Jae, and they get acquainted. Though when she is back, she finds out the truth and also the shocking revelation that her house has been sold to none other than Lee Young Jae.
Even though they had thousands of differences, they agreed to live together in the Full House. Situations take a very sharp turn, and they both end up signing a six-month marriage contract which leads the way to hundreds of complications.
- Starring: Song Hye Kyo as Han Ji Eun, Kim Sung Soo as Yu Min Hyuk, Rain as Lee Yeong Jae, Han Da Gam as Kang Hye Won, Kang Do Han as Shin Dong Wook, and Lee Young Eun as Yang Hee Jin.
- Director: Pyo Min Soo and Park Chan Yool.
- Premiere Period: July 14 to September 2, 2004.
- Watch on: Netflix, WeTV, KBS World, Apple TV, and KOCOWA.
- Total Number of Episodes: 16 with running period of 1 hour 10 minutes each.
Liar Game
Portraying the genres of mystery and thriller, the South Korean drama series is based on the Japanese manga with the same names by Shinobu Kaitani. It was written by Ryu Yong-Jae and has been able to manage good ratings and positive reviews for its plot and cast performance.
In the story, we meet an innocent college student named Nam Da-Jung who gets an invitation to join a reality show named “Liar Game”. She passes the hidden camera audition.
The game is defined as a psychological one where participants trick each other, and the one who manages to win gets prize money worth US$9.3 million. Stressed to pay off her debts and struggling with a rough economic situation, she joins the game and gets conned out of the initial money given to her.
In order to win the game, she seeks help from an intellectual ex-con swindler and former psychology professor named Ha Woo-jin.
- Starring: Kim So-eun as nam Da-jung, Lee Sang-yoon as Ha Woo-jin, and Shin Sung-rok as Kang Do-young.
- Director: Kim Hng-sun.
- Premiere Period: October 20 to November 18, 2014.
- Watch on: tvN, Viki.
- Total Number of Episodes: 12 with running time of 1 hour 3 minutes.
Also Read: 31 Best Medical Korean Drama Series To Watch
Goodbye Mr. Black
Based on the manhwa with the same name and created with “The Count of Monte Cristo” motif, the show portrays the genres of thriller, drama, and romance.
The manhwa was written by Hwang Mi-na and was published in 1983. The MBC show narrates the story of a Navy SEAL demolition officer named Cha Ji-won who was betrayed by his best friends and was denounced as a traitor.
Things take a pretty interesting turn when Ji-won returns backs with a single motif of revenge after he was sent away to another country. The point to mention here is that he doesn’t come back alone. He does his all-in-style comeback with a whole new identity and a “fake” wife.
The show did quite well with the ratings and was appreciated for its plot and cast performance.
- Starring: Lee Jin-Wook as Cha Ji-won, Moon Chae-won as Kim Swan, Kim Kang-woo as Min Seon-Jae, Song Jae-rim as Seo Woo-jin, and Yoo In-young as Yoon Ma-ri.
- Director: Han Hee and Kim Seong-wook.
- Premiere Period: March 16 to May 19, 2016.
- Watch on: Viki, Viu.
- Total Number of Episodes: 20 with a running period of 70 minutes.
Lljimae
Featuring the genres of history, action, and romance, the South Korean drama series is based on a comic strip with the same name written by Ko Woo-young.
The comic was inspired by Chinese folklore from the Ming dynasty. The folklore narrates the story of a masked Robin Hood-esque character which was known during the Joseon Era.
Produced by Chorokbaem Media, the plot of the show is set during the Joseon Era and revolves around Yong, who is a hooligan in the marketplace during the day, but as the night falls, he turns into a thief who robbed from the house of corrupted government officials and gave to the poor.
After each robbery, he leaves behind a painting that depicts a plum tree branch from which the name of the comic and the show was derived.
Though, that’s not the main part of his purpose. His main aim was to find the owner of the very unique sword which was used to kill his father.
He meets Eun Chae, who is the government official’s daughter, and then things take turns.
- Starring: Han Hyo Joo as Byun Eun Chae, Lee Joo Gi as Yong, Lee Young Ah as Bong Soon, Park Shi Hoo as Byun Shi Hoo, Lee Moon Shik as Soe Dol, and Kim Sung Ryung as Dan Yi.
- Director: Lee Yong Seok.
- Premiere Period: May 21 to July 24, 2008.
- Watch on: Viki, Viu.
- Total Number of Episodes: 20 with running timing of 60 minutes each.
Orange Marmalade
Portraying the genres of romance, fantasy, and teen, the series is one of the popular ones in the category of Manga Korean drama. It is based on the webtoon of the same name serialized by Naver WEBTOON from the year 2011 to 2013.
The show did pretty well with the ratings, and the webtoon series was quite popular too around Korea and in the Asian entertainment world.
The plot of Orange Marmalade is set in a fantasy land where humans and vampires co-exist. However, there is a slight change in the vampire part, as they have been portrayed as evolved creatures who don’t rely on human blood for feeding on.
Though, in the story, they are shown as outcastes who are still feared by the society, which has resulted in many of them hiding their true identities.
We meet a socially awkward teenager girl named Baek Ma-ri, who is hiding her vampire identity and has been thrown out of many neighborhoods. She is desperate to find a good locality to settle down and live in peace.
Though her fate has other plans; and she ends up accidentally kissing the most popular boy in her high school and falls in love with him.
All in all, a must-watch for you.
- Starring: Kim Seol-Hyun as Baek Ma-ri, Yeo Jin-goo as Jung Jae-min, Lee Jong-hyun as Han Si-hoo, Gil Eun-Hye as Jo Ah-Ra.
- Director: Lee Hyung-min and Choi Sung-bum.
- Premiere Period: May 15 to July 24, 2015.
- Watch on: Viki, Netflix, KOCOWA.
- Total Number of Episodes: 12 with a running time of 50 minutes each.
Also Read: 31 Best Investigation Korean Movies To Watch
Dr. Jin
Based on the Japanese manga series titled “Jin” and written by Motoka Murakami, the South Korean series portrays the genres of romance, time travel, and medical.
Both the manga and the series were quite popular among the Asian entertainment enthusiastic out there and was known greatly for their historical plot and portrayal of fantasy.
In the show, we meet a 21st-century neurosurgeon named Dr. Jin, who travels hundreds of years back in time and lands in the Joseon dynasty era. The incident happens after he surgically removes a fetus-shaped tumor from a patient’s brain.
The confusion created is huge, but as time passes on, he starts treating the people out there in the era, but the lack of modern medical equipment makes things hard for him. Therefore, he develops medical devices and medicines by himself and also discovers new ways to help people.
Though soon enough, things take sharp turns, and he is faced with many difficult choices.
- Starring: Song Seung-heon as Jin Hyuk, Park Min-young as Hong Young-Rae, Lee Beom-soo as Lee Ha-eung, Kim Jae-joong as Kim Kyung-Tak, Lee So-Yeon as Choon-hong, Jin Yi-Han as Hong Young-hwi.
- Director: Han Hee.
- Premiere Period: 26 May to 12 August, 2012.
- Watch on: Viki, KOCOWA.
- Total Number of Episodes: 22 with a running duration of 1 hour 5 minutes each.
Master of Study
Based on the Japanese comic series titled “Dragon Zakura” by Norifusa Mita, the South Korean drama series portrays the genres of teen and law. Overall, the series did good in ratings and in the plot, and you should definitely have it on your K-drama watchlist.
The show narrates the story of a scrappy and abrasive lawyer named Kang Suk-ho, who is given the responsibility to liquidate Byung Moon High School.
While looking through the case and coming across the problematic students who are living their lives without any kind of dreams, he remembers his own rough and troubled past.
To come out with a solution, he offers a deal to teach them and also claims to get five students accepted in the country’s highly ranked Cheonha University.
His plan is quoted as a crazy one by all the school and department officials out there, but he is determined to get positive results out of it.
The show on the top of the rank is known for its realistic portrayal of the problems a teen student faces in his/her early period of high school. And, also highlights that the purpose of studying is not only securing good grades but also getting ahead in life.
- Starring: Bae Doona as Han Soo-jung, Oh Yoon-ah as Jang Ma-ri, Yoo Seung-ho as Hwang Baek-hyun, Kim Su-ro as Kang Suk-ho, Go Ah-sung as Gil Pul-pi, Lee Hyun-woo as Hong Cha-doo, and Park Ji-yeon as Na Hyun-jung.
- Director: Yoo Hyun-ki.
- Premiere Period: January 4 to February 23, 2010.
- Watch on: Viki, KOCOWA.
- Total Number of Episodes: 16 with running timing of 70 minutes each.
Beautiful Man
Also known as Bel Ami, the South Korea show is based on a 17-volume manhwa titled “Pretty Man” by Chon Kye-young. Portraying the genres of romance and comedy, Beautiful Man did pretty well and was appreciated for its plot a lot both by its audience and the critics.
In the show, we meet a very beautiful and ambitious man named Dokgo Ma Te who wants to make lots and lots of money using his very pretty appearance.
Going with his plan, he steps out to date the top ten successful and richest women in Korea. Well, his plan was great, but things didn’t work out completely his way.
On his way with the plan, he meets a strange woman with a poor background named Kim Bo Tong, who has been in love with him for the past ten years. The question that hangs in midair is, “Can she make him fall in love with her?”
- Starring: Jang Geun Suk as Dok Go Ma Te, IU as Kim Bo Tong, Han Chae Young as Hong Yoo Ra, Lee Jang Woo as Choi Joon Ha, Jei as Choi Do Hee, and Lee Mi Young as Lee Mal Ja.
- Director: Lee Jae Sang, Jung Jung-hwa, and Shin Yong Hwi.
- Premiere Period: November 20, 2013, to January 9, 2014.
- Watch on: Viki, KOCOWA.
- Total Number of Episodes: 16 with running timing of 60 minutes each.
Cheese In the Trap
Taking you on the journey of personal and professional lives of a group of university students, the manga Korean drama series is based on a webtoon with the same name by Soonkki. Cheese In the Trap features the genres of life and romance.
In the story, we meet a hard-working scholarship student named Hong Seol and a mysterious senior named Yoo Jung. We get to know the character of Jung, which is portrayed as manipulative with an outer façade of kindness but from inside is ruthless. Soon enough, the reality is discovered by Seol.
After the revelation, her life gets suffocative to a point where she has to take some time off from school. Through a scholarship that was previously for Jung, she gets back to school.
As the story progresses, we see the situation turning a bit weird as Jung starts behaving too nicely with her and eventually asks her for a date.
- Starring: Seo Kang-joon as Baek In-ho, Kim Go-eun as Hong seol, Park Hae-jin as Yoo Jung, and Lee Sung-kyung as Baek In-ha.
- Director: Lee Yoon-Jung.
- Premiere Period: 4 January to 1 March, 2016.
- Watch on: Viki, Netflix, WeTV, Apple TV.
- Total Number of Episodes: 16 with running timing of 1 hour 5 minutes each.
Also Read: 31 Best Horror Korean Dramas to Watch
Nodame Cantabile
Adapted from Tomoko Ninomiya’a serial manga with the same name, the South Korean television show features the genres of music, comedy, and romance.
The plot of the show revolves around a piano student named Nodame who studies at Momogaoka College of Music. With a dream to become a kindergarten teacher, she prefers to play by ear then follow the music score.
We meet Shinichi Chiaki, who is one of the top students of the university. He is portrayed as a talented pianist and violinist and has a secret ambition of becoming a conductor. Though, his attitude is quite rude and arrogant.
Nodame meets him by accident, and it doesn’t take her long to fall in love with him. But for Chiaki, it takes a whole lot of time as his ego is bigger than anything.
Though he opens up about his feelings with time, and together they stretch their musical qualities beyond boundaries.
- Starring: Ueno Juri as Nodame, Tamaki Hiroshi as Chiaki Shinichi, Nagayama Eita as Mine Ryutaro, Mizukawa Asami as Miki Kiyora.
- Director: Takeuchi Hideki, Kawamura Taisuke, and Tanimura Masaki.
- Premiere Period: October 16 to December 26, 2006.
- Watch on: AsianCrush with a subscription.
- Total Number of Episodes: 11 with a running duration of 46 minutes each.
Boys Over Flowers
The famous South Korean series in the category of Manga Korean drama show is based on the Japanese manga series with the same name. It was written by Yoko Kamio, and the show features the genres of romance, comedy, and of course, a lot of drama.
If you are a K-drama fan, then you must have definitely stumbled across this series which is hugely popular all over the globe.
The show narrates the story of a working-class girl whose life takes sharp turns when she enters a new high school and gets to know the wealthy young men there known with their group name F4.
If you have still not watched the series, then we suggest you to run for it and add it to your watchlist.
- Starring: Ku Hye-sun as Geum Jan-di, Kim Hyun-joong as Yoon Ji-hu, Lee Min-ho as Gu Jun-pyo, Kim Bum as So Yi-jung, Kim Joon as Song Woo-bin, and Kim So-eun as Chu Ga-eul.
- Director: Jeon Ki-sang.
- Premiere Period: January 5 – March 31, 2009.
- Watch on: Netflix, Viki.
- Total Number of Episodes: 25 with running period of 1 hour 5 minutes.
City Hunter
City Hunters is one of the popular South Korean series based on the Japanese manga with the same name by Tsukasa Hojo.
The show was successful globally both for its fantastic plot points and its powerful cast performance. Not to mention the fact that the show paved the way for Lee Min-ho’s recognition and popularity in Europe.
Portraying the genres of action, thriller, and romance, the show narrates the story of an MIT graduate named Lee Yoon Sung, who is working on the international communication team of the Blue House.
With the help of his surrogate father, Lee Jin Pyo, he is planning to seek revenge for his father’s death from five politicians who are responsible for the loss. As his revenge plan progresses, he is come up to be known with the name “City Hunter”.
- Starring: Lee Joon Hyuk as Kim Young Joo, Kim Sang Joong as Lee Jin Pyo, Kim Mi Sook as Lee Kyung Hee, Park Min Young as Kim Na Na, Lee Min Ho as Lee Yoon Sung, and Hwang Sun Hee as Jin Se Hee.
- Director: Jin Hyeok.
- Premiere Period: 25 May to 28 July 2011.
- Watch on: Viki, Apple TV.
- Total Number of Episodes: 20 with a running duration of 1 hour 10 minutes each.
The Noblesse
A South Korean anime series based on a manhwa with the same name written by Son Jeho. The series is popular among the K-drama and anime folks out there and portrays the genre of dark fantasy. Well, that’s everyone’s favorite.
In the plot of the anime, we meet a powerful noble named Cadis Etrama Di Raizel, who has been sleeping for 820 years. He wakes up in an abandoned building in South Korea and gradually starts getting used to the modern techniques of living.
He joins the school and finds his loyal servant Frankenstein. With his help, he enrolls in a high school and, with a half-heart, befriends Shinwoo and few others.
As the plot progresses, we see the small group of friends going on a dangerous mission against a secret organization and also discovering the secrets about Rai’s past.
- Voice Actors: Shin YongWoo as Rai, Kim SeungJun as Frankenstein, Takuma Nagatsuka as Woo Ikhan, Madoka Yonezawa as Seo Yuna, Choi Han as Muzak.
- Director: Shunsuke Tada and Yasutaka Yamamoto.
- Premiere Period: October 7 to December 30, 2020.
- Watch on: Viki, Netflix.
- Total Number of Episodes: 13 with a running period of 23 minutes each.
What’s Wrong with Secretary Kim?
Well, who doesn’t know about it? And, if you don’t, then you are definitely missing out on a gem.
The series is one of the popular ones in the category of Korean manga drama and is known all across the globe for its entertaining plot and popular cast. It is based on the novel by Jung Kyung-Yoon of the same name.
In the romantic comedy, we meet Lee Young-joon, who is a vice-chairman of a very big corporation. His world turns upside down when his secretary for the past nine years announces that she is going to resign from the position. To restrain her from doing so, he does everything he can.
Throughout their journey, we see both of them doing different things. While Young-joon plans things, we see Kim Mi-so planning to find a man from her past.
Though fates have other plans, and both of them end up falling for each other, Mi-so also finds out that the man from her past is none other than her boss Young-joon.
- Starring: Park Min-young as Kim Mi-so and Park Seo-joon as Lee Young-joon.
- Director: Park Joon-Hwa.
- Premiere Period: June 6 to July 26, 2018.
- Watch on: Netflix, Viki.
- Total Number of Episodes: 16 with a running time of 62 to 76 minutes.
Also Read: 31 Best Law Korean Drama Series To Watch
Misaeng: An Incomplete Life
Another popular drama in the manga Korean drama section, the series is based on a webtoon series of the same name by Yeon Tae-ho. The show portrays the genre of dark humor and workplace, and the accuracy of the real-life portrayal is something very appreciative.
The show unravels the reality behind the closed doors of companies and how each worker there struggles with several kinds of difficult and draining situations on a daily basis.
In the story, we meet Jang Geu Rae, who is a Go board game player and is doing his best but fails to become a professional in the game field. Therefore, at the end of the day, he begins looking for a job as he needs something to meet his needs.
And then he has a very non-suitable job. He lacks real-time workplace experience, as he spent the majority of his youth playing Go. This condition makes his job hunt process very hard. Though, he manages to get a position as an intern in a trading company by sheer luck and good connections.
- Starring: Kang Ha-neul as Jang Baek-gi, Kang So-ra as Ahn Young-yi, Im Si-wan as Jang Geu-rae, and Byun Yo-han as Han Seok-yool.
- Director: Kim Won-Seok.
- Premiere Period: October 17 to December 20, 2014.
- Watch on: Viki, Netflix.
- Total Number of Episodes: 20 with a running duration of 65 minutes each.
My ID Is Gangnam Beauty
Based on the webtoon of the same name by Go Maeng-gi, the South Korean drama series is one of the most popular ones in the Korean television industry. It was loved globally and earned a lot of recognition for the genre of K-drama.
The plot of the show revolves around a college student who goes through cosmetic surgery to prove the point of her bullies wrong, but her plan ridiculously backfires when they start harassing her more for her new artificial look.
The show sheds light on the topic of plastic surgeries and artificial beauty that are quite in trend in the new world. The name of the show is also a derogatory term used by South Korean residents to describe people who have increased their attractiveness through artificial processes.
- Starring: Cha Eun-woo as Do Kyung-seok, Jo Woo-ri as Hyun Soo-ah, Im Soo-hyang as Kang Mi-tae, Kwak Dong-yeon as Yeon Woo-young.
- Director: Choi Sung-bum.
- Premiere Period: July 27 to September 15, 2018.
- Watch on: Netflix, Viki.
- Total Number of Episodes: 16 with a running timing of 60 minutes each.
Rugal
Portraying the genres of action and science fiction, the drama series is based on a webtoon of the same name by Rel.mae.
The drama narrates the story of Kang Gi-beom, who is an elite police officer doing his best to bring down one of South Korea’s largest criminal organizations, Argos.
Things go downhill when his wife is killed by one of the hitmen sent by Argos, and he is blinded and framed for the murder.
However, he is again given a chance at life as he is recruited by the NIS and is offered to join “Rugal,” a special task force whose members are equipped with biotechnology giving them special abilities.
He receives two artificial eyeballs, which help him in regaining and enhancing his sight. He sets out to clear his name and bring down the ones responsible for his wife’s death.
- Starring: Choi Jin-hyuk as Kang Gi-beom, Park Sung-woog as Hwang Deuk-gu, Jo Dong-hyuk as Han Tae-kwoong, Jung Hye-in as Song Mi-na, Kim Min-sang as Choi Geun-Cheol, Park Sun-ho as Lee Gwang-Cheol.
- Director: Kang Cheol-woo and Lee Jung-soo.
- Premiere Period: March 28 to May 17, 2020.
- Watch on: Viki, Netflix.
- Total Number of Episodes: 16 with a running time of 60 to76 minutes.
Also Read: 31 Best Historical Korean Dramas To Watch
Hell Is Other People
The manga Korean drama series is based on a webtoon of the same name by Kim Yong-ki. Combining film and drama formats, it is the second drama series in the series of OCN’s “Dramatic Cinema”.
The Psychological thriller narrates the story of Yong Jong-Woo, a young man in his 20s who moves to Seoul after getting an internship at a company. As he is low on money, he decides to stay at Eden Studio, an ominous cheap dormitory.
He notices the abnormal environment and residents of the place and decides to tolerate it for the time being as he saves enough money to move out.
However, he comes across some mysterious incidents which leave him in utter fear of his neighbors in the dormitory.
- Starring: Im Si-wan as Yoon Jong-woo and Lee Dong-wook as Seo Moon-jo.
- Director: Lee Chang-hee.
- Premiere Period: August 31 to October 6, 2019.
- Watch on: Netflix, Viki.
- Total Number of Episodes: 10 with a running time of 60 minutes each.
Love Alarm
It is safe to say that the main character in the show is a love alarm that starts ringing if someone who likes you is within a range of 10 meters from you.
The drama is based on a webtoon of the same name by Chon Kye-young. The drama was pretty popular and was loved globally for its unique plot and strong cast appearances.
We meet Kim Jo Jo, a high-school student who is pretty and smart, and after her parent’s death, her life has become quite a mess. She doesn’t have the app as her phone is not upgraded enough.
As the story progresses, we meet Hwang Sun Oh, a popular student at the same school. He comes from a wealthy background but lacks the love of his parents.
Gradually, their story develops, and both of them are seen as complicated by their feelings.
- Starring: Kim So Hyun as Kim Jo Jo, Jung Ga Ram as Lee Hye Yeong, Song Kang as Hwang Sun Oh, Go Min Si as Park Gui Mi, and Lee Jae Eung as Cheon Duk Goo.
- Director: Lee Na Jung.
- Premiere Period: August
- Watch on: Netflix, Viki.
- Total Number of Episodes: 8 with a running period of 50 minutes each.
Extraordinary You
Adapted from a webtoon titled “July Found by Chance” by Moo Ryoo, the South Korean series portrays the genres of comedy, friendship, romance, and fantasy. The MBC drama was pretty popular among the folks and was highly appreciated for its plot points and heart-warming story.
Well, how do you feel about being an extra character in a comic? That’s how Eun Dan Oh feels.
Eun Dan Oh is a high-school student coming from a rich family and is diagnosed with a lifelong heart condition which means that she won’t live past her teen years.
Gradually, she realizes that she has been experiencing long gaps in her memory and comes to a discovery that she is a side character in a comic, and all her moves are determined by the artist who is drawing her.
Realizing the truth, she makes a firm decision to find her true love in the story.
- Starring: Kim Hye Yoon as Eun Dan Oh, Rowoon as Ha Ru, Lee Jae Wook as Baek Gyung, Lee Na Eun as Yeo Joo Da, Jung Gun Joo as Lee Do Hwa, and Kim Young Dae as Oh Nam Joo.
- Director: Kim Sang Hyub and Kim Sang Woo.
- Premiere Period: 2 October to 21 November, 2019.
- Watch on: WeTV, KOCOWA, and Netflix.
- Total Number of Episodes: 32 with a running timing of 35 minutes.
Itaewon Class
Itaewon Class is one of the globally recognized South Korean drama series awarded with the title of “Best Drama Series” at the 25th Asian Television Awards.
The show is based on the webtoon of the same name by Gwang Jin. Both of them are quite popular globally for their thrilling plots and fantastic cast performances in the series.
In the drama series, we come across the main character named Park Sae Roy, whose father was brutally murdered. The accident turned his whole childhood into nothing but a very traumatic experience.
The owner of one of the biggest chains of restaurants in Korea was the main root of all the trauma he went through. He vows to avenge his father and all those years he lost because of them after he gets out of prison. He started his own restaurant named “Dan Bam” as his first toward his plan.
- Starring: Yoo Jae-Myung as Jang Dae-hee, Park Seo-joon as Park Sae-ro-Yi, Kwon Na-ra as Oh Soo-ah, and Kim Da-mi as Jo Yi-seo.
- Director: Kim Sung-Yoon.
- Premiere Period: 31 January to 21 March, 2020.
- Watch on: Netflix, Viki.
- Number of Episodes: 16 with a running timing of 70 minutes each.
Also Read: 31 Best Food Korean Drama Series To Watch
Memorist
Based on a webtoon of the same name by Jae Hoo, the South Korean drama portrays the genres of crime, mystery, and fantasy.
Well, that is some “fire” combination everyone looks out for. You should definitely add it to your watchlist if you are looking for some real thrill to get your mind on.
The plot of the show revolves around Dong Baek, who has the superpower to read people’s memories and is working as a detective in the police force.
He teams up with a very talented criminal profiler named Han Sun-mi when a string of serial murders starts to flood the office. Together they look for ways and clues to stop the murderer from committing any other murder.
As the story progresses, we see them discovering truths about their individual pasts, and the murder mystery becomes something more complicated than they would have ever thought of.
- Starring: Lee Se-young as Han Sun-mi, Yoo Seung-ho as Dong Baek, and Jo Sung-ha as Lee Shin-woong.
- Director: Kim Whee, Oh Seung-yeol, and So Jae-Hyun.
- Premiere Period: March 11 to April 30, 2020.
- Watch on: Viki, WeTv.
- Total Number of Episodes: 16 with a running timing of 60 minutes each.
Mystic Pop-Up Bar
Portraying the genres of mystery, comedy, family, and fantasy, the show is based on a popular webtoon titled “Twin Tops Bar” by Bae Hye-soo.
The plot of the show is focused around a short-tempered woman named Weol-Ju, who runs a mysterious pojangmacha. We meet Han Kang-bae, who is a part-time worker there, and a former afterlife detective named Chief Gwi, who pays visits to the customers in their dreams and helps them resolve their problems.
We soon find out that Kang-bae has a special ability, and it is very useful for Weol-ju as he needs to settle issues with 100,00 souls. Well, isn’t that quite exciting?
- Starring: Hwang Jung Eum as Wol Joo, Yook Sung Jae as Han Kang Bae, Choi Won Young as Chef Gwi, Jung Da Eun as Kang Yeo Rin, Lee Joon Hyuk as Yeom, and Na In Woo as Kim Won Hyung.
- Director: Jun Chang Geun.
- Premiere Period: May 20 to June 25, 2020.
- Watch on: Netflix, Viki.
- Total Number of Episodes: 12 with a running time of 1 hour 8 minutes each.
A Love So Beautiful
Based on a novel titled “To Our Pure Little Beauty” written by Zhao Qianqian, the South Korean television series features the genres of coming-of-age and romance.
The show was pretty popular in Asia entertainment and managed to gain 37.3 million cumulative views.
The plot of the series revolves around five high school friends and their transition from high-schoolers to adulthood. We see them going through a whole turmoil of emotions and dilemmas and getting over them with the help of each other.
- Starring: Kim Yo-han as Cha Heon, So Joo-Yeon as Shin Sol-I, Yeo Hoe-Hyun as Woo Dae-Seong, Jo Hye-Joo as Kang Ha-young, and Jeong Jin-hwan.
- Director: Seo Min-jung.
- Premiere Period: December 28, 2020, to February 20, 2021.
- Watch on: Viki, Netflix.
- Total Number of Episodes: 24 with a running time of 21 to 25 episodes.
Aftermath
Featuring the genres of thriller, mystery, fantasy, and school, the South Korean drama series has been adapted from a webtoon of the same name by Kim Sun Kwon.
The show tells us the story of Ahn Dae Yong, a high school student who suddenly gets a supernatural ability to point out murders and their victims. Well, that sounds crazy like anything.
He can distinguish between them as the murderers have blue eyes while the victims appear to have red eyes. He uses his new ability to help out people and gradually becomes a hero for everyone.
- Starring: Kim Dong Jun as Ahn Doe Yong, Sun Joo Ah as Joo Hee Kyung, Joo Yeon Woo as Kim Jun Gu, Kim Min Seok as Jo In Ho, Kim Ri Ah as Kim Na Ri.
- Director: Kim Yang Hee.
- Premiere Period: January 6 to January 12, 2014.
- Watch on: Viki, Viu.
- Total Number of Episodes: 5 with a running time of 10 minutes each.
Also Read: 31 Best Friendship Korean Drama Series To Watch
A Man Called God
Portraying the genres of action, adventure, romance, and crime, the series is one of the popular ones in the category of Manga Korean drama. It is based on the manhwa with the same name as Park Bong Sung.
The plot of the show revolves around Michael King, who has vowed to avenge his parent’s death. He is the head of an underground drug kingpin and has a firm belief that he can use his power to punish all the people out there who have or have dared to hurt him in any way.
However, his beliefs start to wear off a little when he falls in love with a reporter named Jin Bo Bae.
- Starring: Song II Gook as Choi Kang Ta, Han Chae Young as Jin Bo Bae, Kim Min Jong as Hwang Woo Hyun, Han Go Eun as Vivian Castle, Yoo In Young as Jang Mi, and Jo Jin Woong as Jang Ho.
- Director: Lee Hyun Sun.
- Premiere Period: March 6 to May 23, 2010.
- Watch on: Netflix, Viki.
- Total Number of Episodes: 24 with a running time of 1 hour 10 minutes each.
Bright It On, Ghost
Adapted from a webtoon titled “Let’s Fight, Ghost” by Iminsu, the South Korean drama features the genres of horror, comedy, romance, and fantasy. Well, the combination is your cue to add it to your watchlist.
The show is a horror-comedy revolving around a ghost of a high school girl who has been dead for 5 years; and a college boy who is an exorcist with the ability to see and hear ghosts.
As the years pass by, he discovers that he can touch ghosts and also fight them off. So, when his part-time job starts paying him less, he starts putting up ads online to put his special abilities to use.
His ad reads, “Will face off with your ghosts, Chances of winning: virgin ghosts 80%, bachelor ghosts 40%, child ghosts 97%, the rest 50%.” The ad is definitely something.
However, things take a sharp turn when he goes out one night meets the high school girl’s ghost, and ends up kissing her.
- Starring: Kim So Hyun as Kim Hyun Ji, Kwon Yool as Joo Hye Sung, Oh Taec Yeon as Park Bong Pal, Kim Sang Ho as Myng Chul.
- Director: Park Joon Hwa.
- Premiere Period: July 11 to August 30, 2016.
- Watch on: Netflix, WeTv, K-DRAMA, Viki.
- Total Number of Episodes: 16 with a running timing of 60 minutes each.
Coffee Prince
The MBC drama is based on the novel by Lee Sun-mi titled “The 1st Shop of Coffee Prince”. It is one of the popular ones in the South Korean entertainment world and features the genres of romance, comedy, and drama.
The plot of the drama leads us to a tomboy woman Eun-chan who dresses like a man so that she can get work.
She is hired by the grandson of the chairman of a food company that is highly known for its coffee. To avoid all the blind dates set by his godmother, he hires her unknown to her real gender, and pretends to be gay.
He goes to an old coffee shop named “Coffee Prince” to prove his worth. And, he hires Eun-chan, still unknown to her gender. Soon, their relationship starts to become something more than just boss and employee, which leads to him questioning his sexuality.
- Starring: Gong Yoo as Choi Han-kyul, Yoon Eun-hye as Go Eun-chan, Lee Sun-kyun as Choi Han-sung, and Chae Jung-an.
- Director: Lee Yoon-Jung.
- Premiere Period: 2 July to 28 August, 2007.
- Watch on: Netflix, Viki.
- Total Number of Episodes: 17 with a running duration of 60 minutes each.
Backstreet Rookie
Adapted from a webtoon titled “Convenience Store Saet Byul” by Hwalhwasan, the South Korean drama series portrays the genres of action, business, comedy, life, and romance.
The SBS drama narrates the story of a four-dimensional girl named Jung Saet Byul who possesses amazing fighting skills; and has boys lined up, but her attention is only focused on the convenience store owner named Choi Dae Hyun for the past three years.
After spending more time with him, she applies for the position of part-time at his store, which she manages to get into. Gradually, their love story grows, and together they heal many wounds.
- Starring: Kim Yoo Jung as Jung Saet Byul, Han Sun Hwa as Yoo Yeon Joo, Ji Chang Wook as Choi Dae Hyun, Do Sang Woo as Jo Seung Joon, Sol Bin as Jung Eun Byul, and Kim Min Kyu as Kang Ji Wook.
- Director: Lee Myung Woo.
- Premiere Period: June 19 to August 8, 2020.
- Watch on: Viki, Viu.
- Total Number of Episodes: 16 with a running period of 1 hour 10 minutes.
At a Distance, Spring Is Green:
Based on a webtoon titled “Campus Life” by Ji Nyoong, the South Korean drama series features the genres of romance, life, school, and youth. Overall, a must-watch for you.
The plot of the show narrates the story of young people in their twenties struggling with their life and university. We meet several characters from different backgrounds trying to make something out of their life, and cope up with the university stress, and keep up with the swift life.
- Starring: Park Ji Hoon as Yeo Joon, Kang Min Ah as Kim So Bin, Nae In Hyuk as Nam Soo Hyun, Kwon Eun Bin as Wang Young Ran, Choi Jung Woo as Hong Chan Ki, and Woo Da Vi as Gong Mi Joo.
- Director: Kim Jung Hyun.
- Premiere Period: June 14 to July 20, 2021.
- Watch on: Viki, Viu.
- Total Number of Episodes: 12 with a running time of 1 hour 3 minutes.
Also Read: 31 Best Fantasy Korean Drama Series To Watch
